PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-12700

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $159 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 43.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,055 vs 34,347).

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Core i7-12700

2022

Core i7-12700K

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $159 less on MSRP ($250 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Delivers 43.2% more PassMark for each dollar spent, at 120.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$ ($250 MSRP vs $409 MSRP).
✅Draws 65W instead of 125W, a 60W reduction.
✅Includes a boxed cooler (Yes), unlike Core i7-12700K.

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +16.8% higher average FPS across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-12700K across 50 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (30,055 vs 34,347).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark per dollar, at 84.0 vs 120.2 PassMark/$ ($409 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌92.3% higher power demand at 125W vs 65W.
❌No boxed cooler included, unlike Core i7-12700.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-12700K better than Core i7-12700?

Yes. Core i7-12700K is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 16.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 14.3% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-12700K is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 16.8% more average FPS across 50 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-12700K is the better fit. You are getting 14.3% better PassMark, backed by 12 cores and 20 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-12700K is still the faster CPU overall, but Core i7-12700 makes more sense if price matters more than absolute performance. Core i7-12700K is 63.6% more expensive on MSRP at $409 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and it gives you a 16.8% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. Core i7-12700 is also 43.2% better value on MSRP (120.2 vs 84.0 PassMark/$), which is why it is easier to justify for price-conscious builds on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core i7-12700 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2022 vs 2021). That makes it the safer long-term pick.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-12700 Benchmark Check

Core i7-12700K Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	257 FPS	314 FPS
medium	248 FPS	295 FPS
high	207 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	193 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	269 FPS
medium	194 FPS	225 FPS
high	156 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	145 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	170 FPS
medium	134 FPS	142 FPS
high	103 FPS	109 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	96 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-12700K

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	312 FPS	630 FPS
medium	265 FPS	533 FPS
high	224 FPS	450 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	410 FPS
1440p
low	257 FPS	536 FPS
medium	228 FPS	475 FPS
high	198 FPS	403 FPS
ultra	172 FPS	349 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	312 FPS
medium	141 FPS	280 FPS
high	133 FPS	266 FPS
ultra	118 FPS	234 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-12700K

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	751 FPS	797 FPS
medium	610 FPS	633 FPS
high	540 FPS	556 FPS
ultra	458 FPS	472 FPS
1440p
low	683 FPS	704 FPS
medium	547 FPS	565 FPS
high	479 FPS	490 FPS
ultra	411 FPS	422 FPS
4K
low	493 FPS	510 FPS
medium	412 FPS	425 FPS
high	369 FPS	381 FPS
ultra	311 FPS	321 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-12700K

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-12700	Core i7-12700K
1080p
low	751 FPS	859 FPS
medium	751 FPS	802 FPS
high	664 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	590 FPS	628 FPS
1440p
low	730 FPS	760 FPS
medium	651 FPS	678 FPS
high	560 FPS	590 FPS
ultra	487 FPS	519 FPS
4K
low	513 FPS	535 FPS
medium	468 FPS	488 FPS
high	414 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	360 FPS	384 FPS

Open Core i7-12700 Open Core i7-12700K

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-12700 and Core i7-12700K

Core i7-12700

The Core i7-12700 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in Janeiro 2022 (3 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.1 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 65 Watt. Memory support: DDR5-4800, DDR4-3200. Passmark benchmark score: 30,055 points. Launch price was $349.

Core i7-12700K

The Core i7-12700K is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 November 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) architecture. It features 12 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 3.6 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 25 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm process technology. Socket: LGA1700. Thermal design power (TDP): 125 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 34,347 points. Launch price was $409.

⚡

Processing Power

Both the Core i7-12700 and Core i7-12700K share an identical 12-core/20-thread configuration. Boost clocks reach 4.9 GHz on the Core i7-12700 versus 5 GHz on the Core i7-12700K — a 2% clock advantage for the Core i7-12700K (base: 2.1 GHz vs 3.6 GHz). The Core i7-12700 uses the Alder Lake-S (2022) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core i7-12700K uses Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021) (10 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-12700 scores 30,055 against the Core i7-12700K's 34,347 — a 13.3% lead for the Core i7-12700K. Both processors carry 25 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i7-12700K
Cores / Threads	12 / 20	12 / 20
Boost Clock	4.9 GHz	5 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.1 GHz	3.6 GHz+71%
L3 Cache	25 MB (total)	25 MB (total)
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	1.25 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm-30%	10 nm
Architecture	Alder Lake-S (2022)	Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
PassMark	30,055	34,347+14%
Cinebench R23 Multi	21,568	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,497	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	12,448	—

🧠

Memory & Platform

Both processors use the LGA1700 socket with PCIe 5.0. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-12700 versus 4800 on the Core i7-12700K — the Core i7-12700K supports 199.6% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. Both support up to 128 GB of RAM. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: H610,B660,H670,Z690,B760,Z790 (Core i7-12700) and Z690,B660 (Core i7-12700K).

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i7-12700K
Socket	LGA1700	LGA1700
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-4800 / DDR4-3200	4800+95900%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB+104857500%	128
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	Yes	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Only the Core i7-12700K has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking — a significant advantage for enthusiasts seeking extra performance. Virtualization support: VT-x / VT-d / EPT (Core i7-12700) vs VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-12700K). Both include integrated graphics — Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700) and Intel UHD Graphics 770 (Core i7-12700K) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-12700 targets Gaming. Direct competitor: Core i7-12700 rivals Ryzen 7 5700X; Core i7-12700K rivals Ryzen 7 5800X.

Feature	Core i7-12700	Core i7-12700K
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics 770	Intel UHD Graphics 770
Unlocked	No	Yes
AVX-512	No	No
Virtualization	VT-x / VT-d / EPT	VT-x, VT-d
Target Use	Gaming	—

💰

Value Analysis

The Core i7-12700 launched at $250 MSRP, while the Core i7-12700K debuted at $409. On MSRP ($250 vs $409), the Core i7-12700 is $159 cheaper. In terms of value on MSRP (PassMark points per dollar), the Core i7-12700 delivers 120.2 pts/$ vs 84.0 pts/$ for the Core i7-12700K — making the Core i7-12700 the 35.5% better value option.